Obituary: German Mezzo & Director Annette Jahns Dies of Illness at 62

By Logan Martell

German mezzo-soprano and director Annette Jahns passed away on September 11, 2020 with the cause of death listed as a prolonged illness.

Born in 1958 in the city of Dresden, Jahns began training as a singer at age 17 at the Carl Maria von Weber College of Music in Dresden, where she studied under Judith Beckmann, Ute Niss, and Theo Adam.

After joining the opera studio of the Semperoper, she became a member of the ensemble four years later in 1986. The following year, Jahns won the “Critic’s Prize” for her performance of the title role in Friedrich Schenker’s “Bettina” at the Theater im Palast in Berlin.

In 1995, she was awarded the Art Prize by the Saxon Capital City of Dresden. and joined the Weber College of Music in Dresden as an instructor.

Through her career as a performer and director, Jahns has appeared at Bayreuth, the Volksoper in Vienna, La Scala, the Theatre du Chatelet, and more.

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